Payroll automation system

Abstract

A payroll system enabling online analysis of payroll information of a current pay period with payroll information of a prior pay period. An embodiment comprises a client computer, a video display, a server connected to the client computer, a database associated with the server with payroll information retrievably stored therein, and means for analyzing the payroll information before funds are disbursed, the means comprising at least one display page displayed on the video display, the display page comprising the payroll information from both a current and a prior pay period. Another embodiment comprises a method comprising the steps of providing a system comprising a client computer comprising a video display, a server operably connected to the client computer, and a database associated with the server, providing payroll information retrievably stored in the database, transmitting at least one display page comprising payroll information for display on the client computer's video display.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A system for payroll automation comprising: 
 a client computer comprising a video display means;    a server operably connected to said client computer;    a database associated with said server;    payroll calculation results data retrievably stored in said database; and    means for review of said payroll calculation results data before disbursements of funds are made pursuant to said payroll calculation results data, said means comprising at least one display page transmitted from said server to said client computer and displayed on said video display means of said client computer, said at least one display page comprising said payroll calculation results data.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said server comprises server memory, said system further comprising: 
 means for obtaining said payroll calculation results data from said database and storing said payroll calculation results data in said server memory, wherein said at least one display page comprises embedded programming operable to obtain at least a portion of said payroll calculation results data from said server memory and operable to insert said portion of said payroll calculation results data into said at least one display page.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said payroll calculation results data is formatted in said server memory using XML tags, and said embedded programming is operable to obtain at least a portion of said payroll calculation results data from said server memory according to said XML tags.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said embedded programming comprises at least one JavaScript routine executable by said client computer.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said client computer is operated by a user, the system further comprising: 
 means for authenticating said user before said at least one display page comprising said payroll calculation results data is transmitted to said client computer.    
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said means for authenticating said user comprises means for determining an extent to which said user may access said payroll calculation results data; and    said means for review of said payroll calculation results data is operable in response to said determination to obtain a portion of said payroll calculation results data tailored for said user.    
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 payroll data retrievably stored in said database, said payroll calculation results data having been computed from said payroll data, wherein said at least one display page comprises at least one hyperlink that, when selected, causes at least a portion of said payroll data to be displayed on said video display means, said payroll data being modifiable by a user of said client computer, with modifications to said payroll data being retrievably stored in said database.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said payroll calculation results data pertains to a current pay period, the system further comprising: 
 committed payroll data pertaining to at least one prior pay period retrievably stored in said database; and    means for review of said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data before disbursements of funds are made pursuant to said payroll calculation results data, said means comprising at least one display page transmitted from said server to said client computer and displayed on said video display means of said client computer, said at least one display page comprising said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said server comprises server memory, said system further comprising: 
 means for obtaining said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data from said database and storing said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data in said server memory, wherein said at least one display page comprises embedded programming operable to obtain at least a portion of said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data from said server memory and operable to insert said portion of said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data into said at least one display page.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data are formatted in said server memory using XML tags, and said embedded programming is operable to obtain at least a portion of said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data from said server memory according to said XML tags.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said embedded programming comprises at least one JavaScript routine executable by said client computer.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said client computer is operated by a user, the system further comprising: 
 means for authenticating said user before said at least one display page comprising said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data is transmitted to said client computer.    
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said means for authenticating said user comprises means for determining an extent to which said user may access said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data; and    said means for review of said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data is operable in response to said determination to obtain a portion of said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data tailored for said user.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 payroll data pertaining to a current pay period retrievably stored in said database, said payroll calculation results data having been computed from said current pay period payroll data, wherein said at least one display page comprises at least one hyperlink that, when selected, causes at least a portion of said current pay period payroll data to be displayed on said video display means, said current pay period payroll data being modifiable by a user of said client computer, with modifications to said current pay period payroll data being retrievably stored in said database.    
     
     
         15 . A method for automation of payroll processing comprising the steps of: 
 providing a system comprising a client computer, a video display means electronically connected to said client computer, a server operably connected to said client computer, and a database associated with said server;    providing payroll calculation results data retrievably stored in said database;    transmitting at least one display page from said server to said client computer, said at least one display page comprising said payroll calculation results data; and    displaying said at least one display page on said video display means of said client computer.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of providing payroll calculation results data comprises the steps of: 
 supplying payroll data at said client computer;    transmitting said payroll data to said server;    calculating said payroll calculation results data based on said payroll data at said server; and    storing said payroll calculation results data in said database.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one display page comprises said payroll calculation results data displayed in a first level of detail, and wherein said at least one display page comprises functionality enabling a user operating said client computer to request said payroll calculation results data to be displayed in a second level of detail, with said payroll calculation results data being displayed in a second level of detail in response to said request.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said server comprises server memory, the method further comprising, before the step of transmitting at least one display page from said server to said client computer, the steps of: 
 obtaining said payroll calculation results data from said database; and    storing said payroll calculation results data in said server memory;    and wherein the step of displaying said at least one display page comprises the steps of:    executing programming embedded in said display page, said embedded programming being operable to obtain at least a portion of said payroll calculation results data from said server memory and being further operable to insert said portion of said payroll calculation results data into said at least one display page.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said payroll calculation results data is formatted in said server memory using XML tags, and said embedded programming is operable to obtain at least a portion of said payroll calculation results data from said server memory according to said XML tags.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said embedded programming comprises at least one JavaScript routine executable by said client computer.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said client computer is operated by a user, the method further comprising, before the step of transmitting at least one display page from said server to said client computer, the step of authenticating said user.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the step of authenticating said user comprises the step of: 
 determining an extent to which said user may access said payroll calculation results data, wherein said at least one display page transmitted from said server to said client computer is tailored for said user in response to said determination.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of providing payroll calculation results data retrievably stored in said database comprises the steps of providing payroll data retrievably stored in said database; computing payroll calculation results data from said payroll data; and retrievably storing said payroll calculation results data in said database; and wherein said display page comprises at least one hyperlink that, when selected, causes at least a portion of said payroll data to be displayed on said video display means, the method further comprising the steps of: 
 selecting said hyperlink;    modifying at least a portion of said payroll data; and    retrievably storing said modified payroll data in said database.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said payroll calculation results data pertains to a current pay period, the method further comprising, before the step of transmitting said at least one display page from said server to said client computer, the step of: 
 providing committed payroll data pertaining to at least one prior pay period retrievably stored in said database, wherein said at least one display page comprises said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the step of providing payroll calculation results data comprises the steps of: 
 supplying payroll data at said client computer;    transmitting said payroll data to said server;    calculating said payroll calculation results data based on said payroll data at said server; and    storing said payroll calculation results data in said database.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said at least one display page comprises said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data displayed in a first level of detail, and wherein said at least one display page comprises functionality enabling a user operating said client computer to request said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data to be displayed in a second level of detail, with said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data being displayed in a second level of detail in response to said request.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said server comprises server memory, the method further comprising, before the step of transmitting at least one display page from said server to said client computer, the steps of: 
 obtaining said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data from said database; and    storing said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data in said server memory;    and wherein the step of displaying said at least one display page comprises the step of: 
 executing programming embedded in said display page, said embedded programming being operable to obtain at least a portion of said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data from said server memory and being further operable to insert said portion of said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data into said at least one display page.  
   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data are formatted in said server memory using XML tags, and said embedded programming is operable to obtain at least a portion of said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data from said server memory according to said XML tags.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said embedded programming comprises at least one JavaScript routine executable by said client computer.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said client computer is operated by a user, the method further comprising, before the step of transmitting at least one display page from said server to said client computer, the step of authenticating said user.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the step of authenticating said user comprises the step of: 
 determining an extent to which said user may access said payroll calculation results data and said committed payroll data, wherein said at least one display page transmitted from said server to said client computer is tailored for said user in response to said determination.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the step of providing payroll calculation results data retrievably stored in said database comprises the steps of providing payroll data pertaining to said current pay period retrievably stored in said database; computing payroll calculation results data from said current pay period payroll data; and retrievably storing said payroll calculation results data in said database; and wherein said display page comprises at least one hyperlink that, when selected, causes at least a portion of said current pay period payroll data to be displayed on said video display means, the method further comprising the steps of: 
 selecting said hyperlink;    modifying at least a portion of said current pay period payroll data; and    retrievably storing said modified current pay period payroll data in said database.    
     
     
         33 . A method for automation of payroll processing comprising the steps of: 
 providing a system comprising a client computer, a video display means electronically connected to said client computer, a server operably connected to said client computer, and a database associated with said server;    providing a first set of general ledger data retrievably stored in said database;    transmitting at least one display page from said server to said client computer, said at least one display page comprising said first set of general ledger data; and    displaying said at least one display page on said video display means of said client computer.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said at least one display page comprises said first set of general ledger data displayed in a first level of detail, and wherein said at least one display page comprises functionality enabling a user operating said client computer to request said first set of general ledger data to be displayed in a second level of detail, with said first set of general ledger data being displayed in a second level of detail in response to said request.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said first set of general ledger data pertains to a current general ledger period, the method further comprising, before the step of transmitting said at least one display page from said server to said client computer, the step of: 
 providing a second set of general ledger data pertaining to at least one prior general ledger period retrievably stored in said database, wherein said at least one display page comprises said first set of general ledger data and said second set of general ledger data.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said at least one display page comprises said first set of general ledger data and said second set of general ledger data displayed in a first level of detail, and wherein said at least one display page comprises functionality enabling a user operating said client computer to request said first set of general ledger data and said second set of general ledger data to be displayed in a second level of detail, with said first set of general ledger data and said second set of general ledger data being displayed in a second level of detail in response to said request.